I frowned at him. “Before?”
“Before you were summoned.”
I shook my head. It was starting to ache. “It’s not important. All that matters is Ezra came for me, telling me I was needed.”
“By Alpha Hughes.”
I didn’t like the censure in his voice, though I couldn’t exactly fault him for that. “I know she has a… reputation. But I don’t know that it’s deserved. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be an Alpha, you know? All that power. But then to be the Alpha of all? It has to take a toll on a wolf. She handles it well,” I added quickly. “Just give her a chance, okay? I don’t know what Shannon has heard. I don’t know what’s happened to her. I know it sucks that she had to lose her mother like she did and become something before she ever thought she would. And I’m in awe of what she’s made here. But I wasn’t lying when I said we’re stronger together.”
“Temporary.”
I frowned. “What?”
“The Alpha of all. Michelle Hughes. She’s temporary. She’s not meant to be—”
I stumbled. I didn’t know what happened. One moment I was listening to Malik, hearing his words, and the next, the pain in my head detonated with a dull whumpf. My fangs dropped, cutting into my lip. Blood trickled down my chin. I was astonished to see my claws were out as I brought them to my head, pressing my hands against my skull.
It was
(little wolf little wolf)
like I’d lost control, like I couldn’t
(can’t you see)
breathe, I couldn’t breathe and I was going to fucking shift in this house and
(i see you i see you i’ll)
I had to get out, I had to get out so I didn’t hurt anyone, so I didn’t hurt those boys
(never let you go)
because I could never hurt anyone, I could never—
Malik said, “Robbie.”
And just like that it was over.
I looked up as I slowly lowered my hands. My fangs had pulled back, my claws retracted.
Malik was watching me warily. His own claws were out, and his eyes were orange.
“I’m sorry,” I choked out as I wiped the blood from my lip. “I didn’t—I didn’t mean—I don’t know what the hell just happened.”
“You lost control of your shift.” He didn’t move toward me.
“I know. I don’t know what set it off.” I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. “I promise this hasn’t happened in years. If it had, I never would have come here. Michelle wouldn’t have sent me. I wouldn’t put those kids in danger.”
His own claws pulled back slowly. “I believe you.” He hesitated. He looked toward the hallway. The only sounds were the house settling and the boys above us. “Can I trust you?”
That caught me off guard. “Uh… yes? I mean, yes. Of course you can.”
He moved quicker than I expected. He wrapped his hands around my biceps, his cheek grazing mine. My eyes fluttered involuntarily at the touch of another wolf. It wasn’t sexual, it was instinctual. He was a stranger, but it felt warm. There was a scent to him, something I couldn’t quite catch. It was faded, like a dream. “Tonight,” he whispered fiercely. “After your witch sleeps. Meet me behind the house. Say nothing to anyone.”
And then I was alone in the kitchen.
“It isn’t much,” Shannon said as she opened the barn door, “but it’ll do for one night.”